Facts and Myths about Pyrrole Disorder

Facts and Myths about
Pyrrole Disorder: Dr. Mensah
Answers your Questions
Date: Thursday, June 19, 2014
Time: 7 p.m. CST, 8 p.m. EST, 6 p.m. MST, 5 p.m. PST
This lecture is presented by Albert Mensah, M.D. and was originally hosted
as a webinar. The archive is available on YouTube. Use these outline
notes in this PDF file as a guide while you listen to the recorded talk.
mensahmedical.com
+1 (630) 256-8308
Join Albert Mensah, MD, as he debunks the common
myths surrounding pyrrole disorder or pyroluria (also
known as the “Mauve Factor”).
About 10% of the
population is unknowingly affected by this condition, and
is commonly found in individuals with anxiety, depression,
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance abuse,
alcoholism, ODD, and ADHD.
Discover how pyrrole
disorder can be easily diagnosed and treated by restoring
the body with necessary nutrients. Good mental health
requires proper neurotransmitter activity.
Learn how
imbalances such as severe overloads or deficiencies of
specific minerals, vitamins, and amino acids can
significantly alter this activity in the brain.
Dr. Albert Mensah is an internationally recognized physician-specialist in metabolic treatment approaches for
patients with developmental, behavioral, learning and mental health issues. He is the president and co-founder of
Mensah Medical, a biomedical outpatient clinic of physicians and nurses who encompass the best of traditional
medicine and natural medicine based on biochemical evaluation, evidence-based research and clinical experience.
Dr. Mensah utilizes a non-drug, nutrient approach targeted to correct biochemical imbalances that may be
associated with anxiety, fears, autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, depression,
school phobias, mood swings, aggressive or violent behavior, childhood and adult schizophrenia, Alzheimer's
disease and Parkinson's Disease. Patients can be seen at our main clinic located just outside of Chicago, and in
select cities at U.S. Outreach Clinics located near San Francisco and Los Angeles, and in Annapolis, Maryland,
Scottsdale, Arizona, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
What is Pyrrole Disorder?!
•  Pyrrole Disorder (pyroluria) is an abnormality in biochemistry
resulting in the overproduction of pyrrole molecules, normal
by-products of hemoglobin synthesis and other processes in
the body. !
•  Excess pyrroles have little or no function in the body and are
effectively excreted in the urine; however, pyrroles have an
affinity for zinc and may contribute to zinc deficiency by
increasing its urinary loss. !
•  When elevated in the urine, they represent a marker for
functional deficiencies in Vitamin B-6 and zinc.!
Clinical Experience!
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10,000 Behavior!
5,600 ADHD!
3,500 Schizophrenia & Bipolar Disorder!
3,200 Depression & Anxiety!
6,500 Autism!
History of Pyrrole Disorder!
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In 1958, Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, first detected “Mauve Factor” or “Mauve” (named
for its appearance on paper chromatograms) in the urine of schizophrenic patients
and found success in treatment with large doses of vitamin B3.!
In 1965, O’Reilly reported mauve elevations in affective psychosis, alcoholism,
psychoneurosis, and behavior-disordered children.!
In 1971, Carl Pfeiffer, MD, PhD, and his team discovered the clinical response of highmauve subjects to vitamin B-6 and zinc and saw remarkable improvements in a series
of 1,000 patients.!
Researchers later identified mauve as hydroxyhemopyrrolin-2-one (HPL), referred to
as “urinary pyrrole” or simply pyrrole, a hemoglobin metabolite that binds with
pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) and zinc.!
By the late 1980’s, Carl Pfeiffer, MD, PhD, and William J. Walsh, PhD, discovered that
supplementation of PLP versus Vitamin B-6 appeared to benefit nearly all B-6
deficient patients, and this practice is still in use today. !
Pyroluria and Oxidative Stress!
•  Most mental disorders involve oxidative stress, and elevated pyrroles may be
secondary to a number of other biochemical conditions. Excessive release of
free radicals can destroy cells or impair biochemical processes.!
•  Pyrrole is a natural organic chemical containing a five-membered ring with the
formula C4H4NH. !
•  Pyrroles are involved in the synthesis of heme, the primary constituent of
hemoglobin. They have an affinity for binding with PLP and zinc, resulting in
these valuable nutrients being transported out of the body together with the
pyrroles.!
•  More than 90% of persons diagnosed with depression, behavioral disorders,
ADHD, autism, and schizophrenia exhibit depleted plasma zinc levels. Severe
oxidative stress depletes zinc stored in the body. !
Walsh, William J. Nutrient Power. New York: Skyhorse Publishing, 2012.!
Vitamin B-6 and Zinc Deficiency!
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Vitamin B-6 in the form of PLP is required for the synthesis of dopamine and GABA in
the brain. A genetic or acquired deficiency of B6 can result in abnormally low levels of
these important neurotransmitters and a myriad of problems, including ADHD,
depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. !
In addition to the production of neurotransmitters, vitamin B-6 is involved in more
than 80 biochemical reactions in the body. Vitamin B-6 deficiency can produce physical
symptoms including nervousness, insomnia, and muscle weakness.!
Zinc has many important roles in brain function and is required for the efficient
conversion of dietary B-6 into PLP. It has a special role in the activation and inhibition
of NMDA receptors that are essential to good mental health. !
Zinc deficiency results in altered brain levels of GABA and can cause copper overloads
that alter brain levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. It is also associated with
delayed growth, temper control problems, poor immune function, epilepsy, hormone
imbalances, neurodegenerative disorders, and learning problems.!
Walsh, William J. Nutrient Power. New York: Skyhorse Publishing, 2012.!
High Incidences of Pyrrole Disorder !
! •  Down syndrome!
•  Alcoholism!
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Autism/Asperger’s!
Anxiety disorder!
Antisocial Personality Disorder!
AD(H)D!
Bipolar Disorder!
Criminal behavior!
Depression!
Tourette syndrome!
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Epilepsy!
Learning disability!
Mood Swings!
Neuroses!
Psychosis!
Oppositional Defiant Disorder!
Substance abuse!
Schizophrenia!
Incidence of Pyrrole Overload in !
Clinical Populations!
(Walsh Research Institute database of 30,000 patients)!
ADHD ! ! ! !
Behavioral Disorder !
Autism ! ! ! !
Depression ! ! !
Bipolar Disorder ! !
Schizophrenia ! ! !
Post-Traumatic Stress
Alzheimer’s Disease !
Healthy Controls ! !
!18%!
!28%!
!35%!
!24%!
!35%!
!30%!
!12%!
!14%!
!8%!
Symptoms and Traits of Pyroluria!
Most pyrolurics experience 50% of following symptoms and traits:!
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poor stress control!
elevated kryptopyrroles in urine!
sensitivity to bright lights!
morning nausea!
tendency to skip breakfast!
acne or very dry skin!
pale skin, inability to tan!
high irritability and temper!
history of underachievement!
little or no dream recall!
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autoimmune disorders!
white spots on fingernails!
poor growth!
coarse eyebrow hair!
stretch marks (striae) on skin!
severe depression!
fear of airplane travel, tornadoes, etc.!
obsessions with negative thoughts!
delayed puberty!
dark or mauve-colored urine!
Symptoms and Traits (Cont’d)!
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severe oxidative stress!
poor short-term memory!
sensitivity to loud noises!
affinity for spicy and salty foods!
abnormal fat distribution!
delicate facial features!
extreme mood swings!
history of a reading disorder!
severe inner tension!
frequent infections!
premature graying of hair!
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abnormal or absent menstrual periods!
poor muscle development!
"fruity" breath and/or body odor!
spleen-area pain!
severe anxiety!
histrionic behavior!
joint pains!
poor wound healing!
psoriasis!
highly abnormal sleep cycle!
abnormal EEG
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Bipolar Disorder or Pyrrole Disorder?!
William J. Walsh, PhD, of the Walsh Research Institute, indicated that bipolar
patients fit into four major biochemical classifications (based on his chemistry
database of 250,000 assays and 1,500 bipolar patients).!
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These include:!
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Undermethylation!
Overmethylation!
Copper/Zinc imbalance!
Pyrrole Disorder (severe oxidative stress)!
In our clinical experience, patients with extreme highs and lows (Rapid Cycling
Bipolar Disorder) often exhibit severely elevated pyrroles. !
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Severe Oxidative Stress in Schizophrenia!
•  About 30% of schizophrenic patients exhibit severe pyroluria and this condition
involves free radical oxidative stress and depletion of protective proteins.!
•  Oxidative overloads from any source can cause psychosis in sensitive individuals
by lowering glutamate neurotransmitter activity at the NMDA receptors in the
brain.!
•  Oxidative stress depletes levels of glutathione (GSH) needed for efficient NMDA
function.!
•  Biochemical markers for this condition include elevated pyrroles, low plasma zinc,
depressed serum glutathione, elevated non-ceruloplasmin serum copper, and
many others. !
•  Pyroluric schizophrenics may have a combination of delusions and auditory
hallucinations. The onset usually occurs during a period of extreme stress.!
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Walsh, William J. Nutrient Power. New York: Skyhorse Publishing, 2012.!
Children with Pyrrole Disorder !
! •  Pyrrole Disorder as a distinctive biochemical imbalance is often exhibited in
children and adolescents with ADHD, autism, asperger’s, anxiety, tourette
!
syndrome, behavioral disorders (including ODD), fears/phobias, sensory
!
processing disorder, learning disorders, and with normal growth cycles (the
“terrible twos” and adolescence).!
•  Common symptoms include high irritability and temper, poor stress control,
frequent infections, poor short-term memory, and sensitivity to light and
sound.!
•  Physical signs include white spots on finger nails, sweet or “fruity” breath, pale
skin that burns easily, and poor wound healing.!
•  In teenagers, depression, pessimism, severe mood swings, or a prior diagnosis
of Bipolar Disorder is common. Often times these individuals withdraw
socially and have a tendency to stay up late.!
DSM-5: Temper Dysregulation Disorder?!
•  Partially out of concern that the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder in children may
have become far too popular among psychiatrists, it has now been proposed
that a new diagnosis known as Temper Dysregulation Disorder (TDD) come
into play.!
•  Severe tantrums, bizarre shifts in mood/behavior, and poor response to small
stressors are some of the symptoms including a prior diagnosis of ADHD,
learning disabilities, or oppositional defiant disorder. These symptoms and
traits strongly correspond to Pyroluria and we encourage parents to test
these children for Pyrrole Disorder. !
•  Children being treated for Pyrrole Disorder may respond quickly to nutrient
therapy and improvements are often reported during the first week.!
Pyroluric Depression!
•  A double deficiency in zinc and vitamin B-6 results in a tendency for low brain
levels of serotonin, dopamine and GABA, a recipe for depression and anxiety.!
•  Female pyrolurics may report disturbed menstrual periods or amenorrhea
(absence of periods). !
•  For males and females, they are often prone to delayed puberty and significant
growth after age 16. !
•  Other symptoms include severe inner tension, short fused reactions, poor
immune function, morning nausea, migraines, fatigue, insomnia, reading disorders,
and academic underachievement regardless of intelligence.!
•  As a genetic condition, it often runs in families. If you find yourself behaving quite
similarly to your hot-tempered parent, you may want to consider testing for
pyroluria.!
•  In many cases, depressed persons exhibit more than just one biochemical
imbalance. !
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Other Nutrient Imbalances!
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A genetic or epigenetic imbalance in a nutrient can alter brain levels of key
neurotransmitters and result in abnormal brain chemistry.
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Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with depression, schizophrenia, ADHD and
other mental disorders. !
Undermethylation (methyl-deficiency) is associated with depression, eating disorders,
obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and perfectionism. !
Patients with overmethylation (folate-deficiency) have a tendency for high anxiety,
panic disorder, depression, including sensitivities to pesticides, toxic chemicals and
foods. !
Copper overload tends to lower dopamine levels and increase norepinephrine in the
brain. Imbalances in these important neurotransmitters have been associated with
paranoid schizophrenia, ADHD, bipolar disorder, postpartum depression and violent
behavior. !!
Fatty acid imbalances has been associated with depression, ADHD, schizophrenia,
bipolar disorder and dementia. !
Genetic or Epigenetic?!
•  Some persons have a genetic or acquired tendency for very elevated levels of
pyrroles, which can result in a deficiency of both PLP and zinc.!
•  A genetic Pyrrole Disorder can result in low serotonin and GABA levels, and
SSRI antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications may be beneficial. However,
targeted therapeutic dosages of supplements may provide similar benefits
without medication side effects. !
•  Since Pyrrole Disorder is a marker for oxidative stress, there may be an
increased need for Vitamin B-6 and zinc under these circumstances. It is likely
that the symptoms of Pyrrole Disorder will reoccur if nutrient-based therapy
is stopped. !
•  Furthermore, since stress, illness and injury all exacerbate zinc deficiency and
Pyrrole Disorder, individuals respond to treatment more rapidly when these
factors are absent, and may relapse in times of stress or illness.!
•  Because of genetic variations, pyroluria may have a variety of outcomes for
different persons. Everyone is biochemically unique. !
Common Myths and Facts!
FACT: Severe stress is a cause of Pyrrole Disorder. Stressful life events or trauma
increases associated symptoms and excretion of pyrroles. !
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MYTH: Omega-3 fatty acids are good for everyone.!
FACT: Pyroluric individuals tend to worsen if given fish oils, DHA, EPA, etc. This is
due to poor processing of arachidonic acid. !
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MYTH: Pyrrole Disorder causes thyroid disease.!
FACT: Pyrrole molecules in general do not cause organic disease. They are in fact
reflective markers of oxidative stress caused by organic disorders like thyroid disease,
cancer, sickle cell anemia, broken limbs, colds and flus, and emotional turmoil or
trauma. Furthermore, correcting pyroluria in these cases will not fix the organic
syndrome. !
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Common Myths and Facts!
FACT: The symptoms of pyroluria are frequently mistaken for signs of
other psychiatric illnesses, mental or behavioral disorders. Misdiagnosis is
very common. When an individual is under the care of an experienced
physician with appropriate laboratory testing, nutrient therapy treatment can
dramatically improve the individual’s symptoms and quality of life. !
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MYTH: Treatment for Pyrrole Disorder requires a complex of multiple
micronutrients.!
FACT: Treatment for Pyrrole Disosrder requires therapeutic dosages of
key micronutrients only.!
Testing for Pyrrole Disorder!
Pyrrole Disorder is diagnosed by finding elevated kryptopyrroles in urine.
Laboratory testing will indicate whether an individual has a numerical Pyrrole
Disorder. Interpretation and correlation of a patient’s medical history, symptoms,
and laboratory test results together allow for an accurate diagnosis of Pyrrole
Disorder by an experienced physician. Often times, borderline cases are seen by test
result and do not alone indicate Pyrrole Disorder in an individual. !
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We utilize Direct Health Care Access II Inc (www.pyroluriatesting.com) for
pyroluria testing. They are the only laboratory in the U.S. that reports both an actual
(uncalculated) and a calculated (corrected) kryptopyrrole result. The calculated
result compensates for concentration changes in the urine specimen result, allowing
for more accurate test results. !
Treatment for Pyrrole Disorder!
•  Pyrrole Disorder is corrected by supplementing individualized,
therapeutic dosages of Vitamin B6, pyridoxine-5-phosphate (the active
form of Vitamin B-6) and zinc, and other supportive nutrient elements i.e.,
Vitamin C,Vitamin E, and evening primrose oil.!
•  If no other chemical imbalances are present, individuals with mild or
moderate symptoms of Pyrrole Disorder may see a response to treatment
in two to four (2-4) weeks. !
•  Individuals with more severe symptoms usually require one to three (1-3)
months before some improvement is seen, with greater improvement
occurring gradually over three to 12 months.!